Clamp for bracing and connecting track-rail sections.



No. 803,446. PATBNTED OCT. 31, 1905. L N. SPAID.

CLAMP FOB. BRACING AND CONNECTING TRACK RAIL SECTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17, 1905.

[NV/i/V TOR ISAAC N. SPAlD, OF W EST CHARLESTON, OHIO.

CLAMP FOR BRACING AND CONNECTING TRACK-RAIL SECTIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed August 1'7, 1905. Serial No. 214,635.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Isaac N. SrAn), a citizen of the United States,residing at West Charleston, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps for Bracingand Connecting Track-Rail Sections and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to a clamp for bracing and connecting track-railsectlons, or, in other words, a fastening means for securelyconnecting'or joining the abutting ends of the sections or railscomprising a railroadtrack, also a means for preventing any lateralmovement of said sections or rails.

Some of the principal objects and advantages of this invention consistin producing a device for connecting and retaining the sections of railsof a track for railroads or traction-lines more firmly in position thanheretofore, also one which can not alone be quickly and readily attachedto all classes of rails in present use, but may also be employed withequal advantage in connecting broken rails, also to produce a device ofthis nature composed of few parts, simple in construction andnecessarily inexpensive in cost of manufacture, and which is veryeffective in its results, the construction of my device being such as todo away with all costly and expensive bolts, fish-plates, and nut-locksor like attachments.

My invention consists, essentially, referring in general terms to theconstruction of my clamp for bracing and connecting trackrail sections,of the inner sectional brace provided with the groove and the openingsor cylindrical depressions, the outer sectional brace provided with thetongue and the connecting prongs or pins, and the minor details and thevery peculiar and novel construction, arrangement, and combination ofthese various mechanical parts, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed in detail, and pointed out in the subjoined claims, inaccordance with the statutes in such cases made and provided therefor.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, constituting a formal part ofthis specification, and wherein the same letters of reference indicatethe same parts wherever occurring throughout the several views, Figure 1is a transverse sectional view of a car-track, taken on line y y of Fig.4, showing the clamp on one side of track in section. Fig. 2 showsperspective views of the inner and outer sectional braces, showing themin position ready to be assembled in laying a track. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the connecting-bar which may be used, if so desiredand Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of a railroad-track with myclamps in position so as to illustrate the practical application of theinvention.

In describing my said invention specifically and referring in detail tothe various mechanical parts or elements of construction of my clampsfor bracing and connecting track-rail sections, a refers to the innersectional brace, which is to be constructed out of properly-temperediron or similar material the same as the'balance of the clamps andprovided with a recess or slot 1) of the proper size and shape adaptedto receive the adjacent flange c of the base of the abutting ends of thesections of rails C, said inner brace a having its base or portion whichrests upon the tie D formed with a groove cl, while its inner face 6,which bears against the web of the rail, is provided with cylindricaldepressions or holes f. Outer sectional brace g, as fully and clearlyillustrated, is provided with a recess or slot h, identical with recess5, and adapted, like said recess, to receive the adj acent (butopposite) flange 0 of the abutting ends of rail-sections C. Said outerbrace g has its base or portion which rests upon the tie or sleeper Dextending far enough inward 1 at i so as to meet the base of inner bracea, (see Figs. 1 and 2) and is formed with a tongue 76, which is adaptedto rest in and extend somewhat beyond groove d of said inner sectionalbrace, as shown, there being left only sufiioient space between theinner faces or vertical walls 6 of said inner and outer sectional bracesfor the webof the rails or rail-sections, which will thus be held firmlytherebetween. Said outer sectional brace is further provided on itsinner face or vertical wall 6, which bears against the web of the rails,as just referred to, with connecting prongs or pins Z, so placed and ofthe proper number to register with the ordinary bolt holes or eyes forthe bolts of nut-locks of fish-plates, with which most all rails areprovided, said connecting-prongs being of a length suflicient to permitthem after passing through said bolt holes or eyes in the rails orrail-sections, as just referred to, to enter and rest snugly withincylindrical depressions f of inner sectional brace a. Both said innerand outer sectional braces are preferably somewhat approximatelywedge-shaped, as shown, and are so shaped at m as to lit tightly underthe lower side or portion of the top or ball of the rails and on eachside of the web, when said sectional braces are held firmly and securelyin position on the tie D by means of large spikes, which are driventhrough holes or openings n in the two sectional braces adapted toreceive them and also through hole 0 in tongue 70, and thence enter tieD. Connecting prongs or pins Z are intended in practice to be somewhatsmaller in circumference than the bolt eyes or openings in rail-sectionsC for the purpose of allowing for the longitudinal contraction or eX-pansion or running of the rails.

As shown in Fig. 3 and also illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, aconnecting-bar I, constructed out of metal similar to the clamp andadapted to lap at each end onto the end of the tongue 76, which isprovided with a hole or opening 1), adapted to receive a spike which isto be driven therethrough and thence through a similar hole in the endof said tongues (not necessary to be here shown) into tie D, may beemployed when so desired for reinforcing the strength of the clamp onroads where there is a great amount of heavy traflic.

It will be obvious that one very important use or purpose for which myclamp may be employed is in connecting parts of a broken rail at thepoint where the fracture occurs. In this instance all that is necessaryafter first placing or laying a tie at this point in the customarymanner is to simply remove by cutting the connecting prongs or pins Zfrom outer sectional brace], when all that is then necessary is toassemble and adjust the parts in position against the sections of rails,(caused in this instance by the fracture,) thus avoiding all delay ofotherwise drilling holes through the web of the rail for said prongs.

It will be observed that in securing my clamps in position on a trackonly large spikes are used, there being no bolts throughout the entiredevice. Old rails need not be removed when equipping a track with myclamp, as the connecting prongs or pins are made of sufficient size anddistance apart to register with the bolt eyes or holes, which arealready placed in the rails when manufactured.

Having now described my clamp for bracing and connecting track-railsections, what I claim is 1. In a clamping device for connecting andbracing rails, the combination. of the inner sectional brace providedwith a groove, and holes or cylindrical depressions, and adapted toreceive a flange of the rails; the outer sectional brace provided with atongue, and pins or prongs, and adapted to receive a flange of therails; all substantially in the manner and. for the purposes described.

2. The combination in a clamp for bracing and connecting track-railsections, of an inner sectional brace formed with a slot to receive theflange of the rails, and having its base or under side provided with agroove, and also provided with holes or cylindrical depressions; anouter sectional brace formed. with a slot to receive the flange of therails, a tongue adapted to fit in the groove in said inner sectionalbrace, pins or prongs adapted after passing through the bolt-eyes in therails, to rest securely in the holes or cylindrical depressions in saidinner section; all substantially as described.

3. In a clamp for bracing and connecting track-rail sections, thecombination with the rails of the track of the inner sectional brace,formed with a slot, and having holes or cylindrical depressions in itsinner face or wall and a groove across the base; the outerscctionalbrace, formed with a slot, and having prongs or pins projectingfrom its inner face or wall, and a tongue projecting from the base; allsubstantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my I signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ISAAC N. SPAII).

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. I'IOWARD, BERNARD B. EwALD.

